How do I fix network adapter problems?

If you can’t connect to a network, there might be a problem with your network adapter, the piece of hardware that makes it possible for your PC to connect to a network. 3-pages.

Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1

First, try using the Network Adapter troubleshooter to automatically find and fix some problems. This troubleshooter will disable and re-enable the adapter and try some other common repairs:

Open the Network Adapter troubleshooter by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering troubleshooting in the search box, and then tapping or clicking Troubleshooting. Tap or click Network and Internet, tap or click Network Adapter, and follow the instructions on your screen.

Things to check

If running the Network Adapter troubleshooter doesn’t fix the problem, here are some more things to try.

Make sure airplane mode is turned off and wireless communication is turned on

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings. (If you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings.)

Tap or click the network icon .

Make sure Airplane mode is turned off and wireless communication (Wi‑Fi or mobile broadband) is turned on.

Make sure the network adapter is enabled

Open Network and Sharing Center by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering network and sharing in the search box, and then tapping or clicking Network and Sharing Center.

Tap or click Change adapter settings.

Press and hold or right-click the network adapter, and then tap or click Enable. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

Reset the network adapter

The Network Adapter troubleshooter will do this automatically, but if you’d prefer to do it manually, follow these steps:

Open Network and Sharing Center by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering network and sharing in the search box, and then tapping or clicking Network and Sharing Center.

Tap or click Change adapter settings.

Press and hold or right-click the network adapter, and then tap or click Disable. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

Press and hold or right-click the adapter again, and then tap or click Enable. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

After you’ve reset the adapter, try connecting to the network again, or run the Network troubleshooter to verify that your network adapter is now working correctly.

Open the Network troubleshooter by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering Identify and repair in the search box, and then tapping or clicking Identify and repair network problems.

Update the network adapter driver

You must be signed in as an administrator to follow these steps.
If you reset your network adapter and you still can’t connect to a network, try running the Network troubleshooter first.

To run the Network troubleshooter

Open the Network troubleshooter by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering Identify and repair in the search box, and then tapping or clicking Identify and repair network problems.

If the Network troubleshooter doesn’t find and fix the problem, you might need to update the adapter driver, the software that enables your network adapter to communicate with your PC. (Updating the driver can solve the problem of missing or failed drivers, as well as outdated ones.) There are several ways to do this, and some might be more successful than others, depending on the type of PC you have and other factors. Use the following procedures in order until you’re able to update the driver.

To check for a driver in Windows Update

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), tapping or clicking Settings, tapping or clicking Change PC settings, and then tapping or clicking Update and recovery.

Tap or click Check now, and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your PC.

Click View details to view optional updates. (Network adapter drivers are likely to be listed as optional updates.) If an update for your network adapter driver was found, select it, and then tap or click Install.

Note

You might need to restart your PC to finish installing some updates. Save and close all your files and apps before you restart so you don’t lose anything.

If you weren’t able to update the driver using Windows Update, try using Device Manager.

To check for a driver using Device Manager

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.) ‌

Enter Device Manager in the search box, and then tap or click Device Manager.‌ You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

Double-tap or double-click Network Adapters, press and hold or right-click your adapter, and then tap or click Properties.

Tap or click the Driver tab, and then tap or click Update Driver.
If Windows can’t find the driver on your PC and you don’t have a connection to the Internet, you might need to contact the network adapter manufacturer or your PC manufacturer to get the driver. Check the info that came with your network adapter or your PC to see if you have a disc that contains the drivers.

If you weren’t able to update the driver using Device Manager, try using Action Center.

To check for a driver using Action Center

Open Action Center by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering Action Center in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking Action Center.

Expand the Maintenance section and look for a network adapter driver notification. If you find one, follow the instructions to install it.

If you don’t see a notification, check for a solution manually in the Maintenance section, and then, under Check for solutions to problem reports, tap or click Check for solutions.

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